Tillie Tarantino, former director of the Swingin' Sixties Senior Center in Williamsburg and longtime member of Community Board 1, passed away on Wednesday, October 30. She was 81.

Over a span of nearly 40 years, Tarantino fought for seniors and the residents of Williamsburg and Greenpoint.

Thanks to her hard work and dedication to, the building at 211 Ainslie Street, where the community board holds it's monthly meetings, was constructed and serves as the home of the Swingin' Sixties Senior Center and Small World Daycare Center.

“We were all saddened by the passing of Tillie Tanrantino,” said Phil Caponegro, the newly elected president of the Conselyea Street Block Association, which currently operates the senior center. “She gave the senior center her all. She had a deep personal commitment to ensure that local seniors had a lively place to socialize, have fun, develop as people, and eat a hot meal.”

Tarantino also served on the board of Metropolitan Senior Housing and was the founder of the Greenpoint Renaissance Enterprise Corporation (GREC), a local coalition formed to oversee the redevelopment of the Greenpoint Hospital.

“I knew Tillie for a long time,” said Frank Guidice, former president of the Conselyea Street Block Association. “She was a great friend and she was a great director who was respected by everyone. She will be deeply missed.”